Job procedure display apparatus, method of controlling job procedure display apparatus and non-transitory, computer readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

An apparatus displaying a job screen indicating a job procedure, has a management unit that manages a job and a plurality of processes, a monitor unit that monitors an operation of an operator, a recorder unit that records an address of a job, an instructing unit that retrieves an address in response to a notification, determines whether to update the retrieved address in response to a type of a notified operation, and stores the updated address when the retrieved address has been updated, a storage unit that stores the job screen, and a control unit that reads the job screen and controls the read job screen, wherein the management unit retrieves the updated address, and instructs the display control unit to display the job screen, and wherein the display control unit reads out the instructed job screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/344,834 filed Jan. 6, 2012, which is based upon and claims thebenefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No.2011-048464, filed on Mar. 7, 2011, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The embodiments described herein are related to a job procedure displayapparatus and a job management apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In the discussion that follows, a “display apparatus” refers to not onlya standalone display apparatus but also a system that includes a firstapparatus having a display unit 12 and a second apparatus providing aninstruction to the first apparatus to display information thereon.Furthermore, the “display apparatus” refers to not only the apparatushaving the display unit 12, but also a third “apparatus causing anotherapparatus to display information.” The third apparatuses may include anapparatus that causes another apparatus having the display unit 12 todisplay information, and an apparatus that transfers, to the apparatushaving the display unit 12, information to be displayed thereon.

In the assembly of a product, operators are supplied with a jobprocedure manual and a variety of documentations in order to teach theoperators a variety of job procedures and contents of jobs.

Electronic apparatuses are now considered. A plurality of processes andjobs are typically performed in the assembly of an electronic apparatus.For example, several tens of processes are performed in the assembly ofa large-scale apparatus. Each operator checks the content of each jobviewing the documentations such as a work manual or a job proceduremanual, each specifying a job procedure in each process, and performs anassembly job in accordance with the procedure described in the jobprocedure manual. Described in the job procedure manual is a descriptionof an item each operator takes note of in addition to drawings andphotographs of an apparatus to be assembled.

The word “job” here refers to each assembly job the operator is supposedto do, and the word “process” includes a plurality of related jobs, andrefers to a series of jobs as a set. For example, a series of jobsmounting a unit called A onto an apparatus is referred to as a“process,” and each job, included in the process, mounting the unit Aonto the apparatus is referred to as a “job.” The job may be an assemblyjob of arranging the unit A on the apparatus, or of securing the unit Aonto the apparatus with a screw.

The following discussion focuses on the job procedure of the assemblyjob, and is not intended to limit the job type of the embodiments.

The related art technique described above is disclosed in JapanesePatent No. 2513890.

The job procedure manual may be in the form of a book into which sheetsof paper or other type of sheets are bound. The job procedure istypically viewed with the job procedure manual laid and opened on adesk, for example. Space to accommodate the job procedure manual may bearranged in a work place. The work place is typically not wide enough.In view of the efficiency of job, the space available for the jobprocedure manual is limited. The work place of the assembly job may betoo narrow to accommodate the job procedure manual. If the job proceduremanual is placed at a location different from the work place, anoperator has difficulty viewing the job procedure manual without movingaway from the work place. This arrangement causes a difficulty for theuser to reference the job procedure manual, thereby reducing theefficiency of assembly job.

The operator typically turn pages of the job procedure manual as a jobis in progress. Page turning may reduce the efficiency of assembly job.In particular, when an operator wears gloves, or holds a tool, pageturning of the job procedure manual is difficult.

The job procedure manual is typically prepared on a per assembly productbasis. Each time a different product is introduced, the job proceduremanual in use is also changed accordingly. Even if products of the sametype are continuously assembled, product specifications may be differentbecause of a difference in apparatus or unit. Since the job procedure ofassembly changes from product to product, a different job proceduremanual complying with a different job procedure may be used.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the embodiment, a job procedure displayapparatus displaying a job screen indicating a job procedure, includes amanagement unit that manages a job and a plurality of processes, each ofthe processes including at least one job, in accordance with a processaddress indicating an order of the plurality of processes and a jobaddress indicating an order of the job included in a process, a monitorunit that monitors an operation of an operator, a recorder unit thatrecords an address of a job corresponding to the displayed job screen,an instructing unit that retrieves an address from the recorder unit inresponse to a notification from the monitor unit, determines whether toupdate the retrieved address in response to a type of a notifiedoperation, and stores the updated address on the recorder unit if theretrieved address has been updated, a storage unit that stores the jobscreen, and a display control unit that reads the job screen from thestorage unit and display-controls the read job screen, wherein themanagement unit retrieves the updated address from the recorder unit,and instructs the display control unit to display the job screencorresponding to the retrieved address, and wherein the display controlunit reads out from the storage unit the instructed job screencorresponding to the retrieved address.

The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attainedby means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out inthe claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a display apparatus of one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a terminal device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the terminal device.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a display unit and a touch panel ofthe terminal device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a fault operation screen.

FIG. 6 illustrates another screen displayed on the display unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a server.

FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates a process job management performedby a management unit.

FIG. 9 illustrates a content code table.

FIG. 10 illustrates a structure of a page data storage unit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of displaying a jobscreen.

FIG. 12 illustrates a content of a performance record of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a storage procedure of theperformance record.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed at thestartup of an assembly job.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when a “nextjob” is selected.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when a“preceding job” is selected.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when a “nextprocess” is selected.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when a “faultoperation” is selected.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when a faultevent is monitored.

FIG. 20 illustrates an operation performed on content data in a contentdata table when a job is added.

FIG. 21 illustrates an operation performed on the content data in thecontent data table when the job procedure is modified between processes.

FIG. 22 illustrates an operation performed on the content data in thecontent data table when the job order is modified within one process.

FIG. 23 illustrates an operation performed on the content data in thecontent data table when a job is deleted.

FIG. 24 illustrates an operation performed on the content data in thecontent data table when a process is shifted and substituted.

FIG. 25 illustrates a mouse operation performed when the job ismodified.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a display apparatus 1 of one embodiment.

The display apparatus 1 of the embodiment includes a portable terminaldevice 10 with a display unit 12 (hereinafter referred to as a terminaldevice) having a wireless communication function, and a server 20performing wireless communication with the terminal device 10.

The server 20 is connected to an antenna 40 for wireless communicationvia a network 41. The server 20 communicates with the terminal device 10via the antenna 40. There is a transceiver for executing datatransmitting via the antenna 40.

FIG. 1 illustrates a total of n terminal devices 10 in operation, i.e.,terminal device 1 through terminal device n. FIG. 1 is not intended tolimit the number of terminal devices and display units.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the terminal device 10.

In view of ease of use, the terminal device 10 is furnished with a beltsuch that an operator wears the terminal device 10 on their wrist. Theterminal device 10 includes on the front face thereof the display unit12 displaying a job screen. The job screen displays a job procedure, andalso displays images including photographs and drawings. Also displayedon the job screen are instructions and notes to an operator asappropriate.

To help the operator for operating the terminal device 10, the displayunit 12 includes a touch panel 13. The use of the touch panel 13 setsthe operator free from operating a mouse and a keyboard to check the jobprocedure, and increases the job efficiency. Since the touch panel 13itself is based on related art, no detailed explanation about the touchpanel 13 is provided herein.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the terminal device 10. Theterminal device 10 is generally controlled in operation by a processorarranged therewithin. The processor is hereinafter referred to as a“controller 11.”

The terminal device 10 includes a storage unit 14. The storage unit 14stores identification information identifying the host device.

The controller 11 wirelessly communicates with an external apparatussuch as the server 20 via a communication unit 15. The controller 11temporarily stores on the storage unit 14 information such as an imageretrieved from the server 20 via wireless communication, and controlsthe display unit 12 to display the information stored on the storageunit 14.

The controller 11 monitors an operation status of the touch panel 13.When the touch panel 13 is operated by the operator, the controller 11identifies an instruction and job content of the operator depending onthe operation location of the touch panel 13, and notifies the server 20of the job content.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the display unit 12 and the touchpanel 13 in the terminal device 10.

The terminal device 10 displays the information such as an imagereceived from the server 20. FIG. 4 illustrates the display unit 12 thatdisplays an image indicating a job procedure. Depending on the progressof the job, the operator operates the touch panel 13 to move the screenforward or backward presented on the display unit 12.

The touch panel 13 is divided into four regions as illustrated in FIG.4. The touch panel 13 of FIG. 4 includes the four regions, i.e., a“preceding job,” a “next job,” a “next process,” and a “faultoperation.” The operator operates the touch panel 13 responsive todesired job content to specify the desired job content. Each region isenclosed by broken-line outline. In practice, however, the outline ofeach region is not displayed on the display unit 12. The broken lineoutline is illustrated for illustrative purposes.

The “preceding job” region is selected by the operator when the operatorwishes to check a job screen displayed on the display unit 12 prior tothe job screen presently displayed. The “next job” region is selected bythe operator when the operator wishes to display on the display unit 12a screen of a next job within the same process placed subsequent to thejob screen presently displayed.

The “next process” region is selected by the operator when the operatorwishes to display and check a screen of a process subsequent to theprocess to which the job of the job screen presently displayed on thedisplay unit 12 belongs. The “next process” region is also selected whenthe operator has completed the procedure of the present process.

The “fault operation” region is selected by the user when any faultoccurs in the assembly job. If the “fault operation” region is selected,the job screen being displayed on the display unit 12 then quits, and isreplaced with a fault operation screen of FIG. 5.

A “restore” region of FIG. 5 is selected by the operator when the faultis corrected in any way after the fault operation screen is displayed,i.e., the fault occurs in the job. In response to an instruction fromthe server 20, the display unit 12 reverts back to the job screendisplayed heretofore.

A “retire” region of FIG. 5 is selected by the user when a product inthe middle of the assembling is to be removed from an assembly linebecause the fault is difficult to clear. The series of operations isterminated in this case.

Since the terminal device 10 is worn by the operator as described above,the size of the screen is limited. The operator with gloves is unable toperform a delicate operation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fourregions, i.e., the “preceding job” region, the “next job” region, the“next process” region, and the “fault operation” region are set on theterminal device 10 of the embodiment with a view to arranging a wideregion for the touch panel 13 corresponding to each instruction. Withthe number of screen segments being four or so, the operator intuitivelyrecognizes the position of the touch panel 13 to be selected.

Since the size of the screen of the terminal device 10 is small, nosufficient margin is provided for the job screen. As illustrated in FIG.6, a button image for operation may be displayed on a screen separatefrom a screen for procedure steps on the display unit 12, or an indexrepresenting a structure of the job procedure manual may be displayed ina tree. In the terminal device 10 of the embodiment, however, thedisplay unit 12 does not display the button image and the index, andpresents the job screen on the entire screen. If the screen has amargin, the screen structure of FIG. 6 may be optionally used.

The term “preceding job” is illustrated in FIG. 4 to simply indicate thecontent of the region. The screen of the terminal device 10 may bewithout such a term indicating the content of the region. The displayingof other information to the terminal device 10 is to be restrained tohelp the operator easily recognize the displayed job screen. No jobscreen is displayed in the fault operation screen of FIG. 5. The terms“restore” and “retire” are clearly displayed in order to cause theoperator to understand a responsive operation to a fault.

The controller 11 recognizes coordinates and position of an operation onthe touch panel 13. The controller 11 thus determines an instructioncontent assigned to the operation position on the touch panel 13. If thetop left region of the touch panel 13 of FIG. 4 is selected by theoperator, the controller 11 determines that the “preceding job” has beenspecified. The controller 11 then transmits to the server 20 anotification, indicating the instruction content thus determined,together with identification information identifying the terminal device10.

Upon receiving the information transmitted from the server 20 to thehost terminal device, the controller 11 performs an operation responsiveto the received information.

FIG. 7 illustrates a structure of the server 20 of the embodiment. Thename “server 20” used here is meant to indicate an apparatus thatsupplies the terminal device 10 with information, in particular, a jobscreen. The server 20 is not limited to a so-called “server computer.”Another type of apparatus may be used as the server in the embodiment.

The server 20 is functionally divided into a controller 21, a storage22, and a monitor 23. The controller 21 executes and controls majorfunctions of the server 20. For example, a processor executes softwareprograms, thereby implementing the function of each element of theserver 20. The server 20 of FIG. 7 is described in terms of elements andoperations. This does not exclude the possibility that an element and anoperation, unrelated to the elements and the operations related todisplaying the job screen and the process management, are present in theserver 20.

The storage 22 is an element storing a variety of information. Thestorage 22 may include a storage device of related art such as a diskdevice. The storage 22 includes a page data storage unit 221 and aperformance record storage unit 222 as the elements related to theembodiment.

The monitor 23 includes a progress management monitor unit that managesprogress of the assembly by referencing a performance record stored onthe performance record storage unit 222, a job performance monitor unitthat checks the performance record of the job, and a man-hour monitorunit that counts man-hours of each job.

The controller 21 in the server 20 includes a transceiver 211 thatwirelessly communicates with the terminal device 10. Information and anotification received from the terminal device 10 via the transceiver211 are inputted to the event monitor unit 212 and fault event monitorunit 219.

Each of the event monitor unit 212 and the fault event monitor unit 219monitors a notification from the terminal device 10, i.e., monitors anevent, and executes an operation responsive to the detectednotification. The event monitor unit 212 monitors the notification whenthe job screen is displayed on the terminal device 10. The fault eventmonitor unit 219 monitors the notification when the fault operationscreen is displayed on the terminal device 10.

The event monitor unit 212 monitors the notification from the terminaldevice 10, i.e., the occurrence of the events including the “precedingjob,” the “next job,” the “next process,” and the “fault operation.”

If the notification of the “preceding job,” the “next job,” or the “nextprocess” from the terminal device 10 is detected, the event monitor unit212 transfers the detected notification to the operation instructingunit 213. If the notification of the “fault operation” is detected, theevent monitor unit 212 notifies the operation instructing unit 213 ofthe detected notification of the fault operation.

A management unit 215 manages mapping relation of each product betweeneach process and each job included in the process. FIG. 8diagrammatically illustrates the management of the process and jobperformed by the management unit 215.

The procedure of the product assembly is managed by drawing number ofeach product as an assembly target. The management unit 215 manages theprocedures of the same drawing number by grouping the jobs included ineach process by process unit. The management unit 215 thus logicallymanages the processes and the jobs included in each process in a matrixstructure. Each job is accompanied by an address (n,m). In this case,“n” represents a process number that includes a job of interest, and “m”represents a position of the job of interest in the process n. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the process 1 through the process N are arrangedin a first direction and the job 1 through the job M are arranged in asecond direction. In the discussion that follows, the uppercase letter Nrepresents the final process, and the uppercase letter M represents thefinal job in each process.

Depending on the process, the job screen indicating the procedure of thejobs is mapped to detailed information of the process. The detailedinformation may include quality information of the job, such as a pastfault example in the process and notes about the process. Importantinformation that the operator typically refers to in the job operationis presented on each job screen. On the other hand, knowhow informationthat the operator not necessarily but preferably refers to is separatelyarranged from the job screen of each job as the detailed information. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the process 2 and the process N are associatedwith the “detailed” information. The detailed information is groupedsuch that the detailed information is attached to the final job M ofeach process. The management unit 215 recognizes that “M” represents thefinal job, and that the “detailed” information is attached to the finaljob M.

FIG. 8 illustrates the process jobs corresponding to one drawing number.If products related to a plurality of drawing numbers are assembled inparallel, the management unit 215 expands and manages the procedures ona per drawing number basis of the products assembled in parallel. Themanagement unit 215 also expands the procedures on a per operator basis.If different operators perform the assembly job related to the samedrawing number, in other words if the assembly jobs are performed inparallel on a plurality of products, the management unit 215 expands theprocedures on a per operator basis.

The procedure managed by the management unit 215 is used to identify thejob screen in the position in a series of procedures in accordance withthe operation of the terminal device 10. More specifically, when theterminal device 10 is operated, the procedure managed by the managementunit 215 is used to identify whether the job screen displayed on theterminal device 10 corresponds to a job of the final process, or thefinal job or the leading job of a given process. The procedure managedby the management unit 215 is described more in detail together with anoperational status of the terminal device 10.

The management unit 215 includes a content code table that manages eachexpanded job and a content code by linking the job to the content code.FIG. 9 illustrates the content code table.

An address is linked to a content code in the content code table of theembodiment such that the address of each process job is mapped to thecontent code indicating the job screen corresponding to each job. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, alphabets represent content codes. As illustratedin FIG. 9, a content code “A” is assigned to a job at an address (1,1)and a content code “E” is assigned to a job at an address (2,2). Thecontent code is used to retrieve the job screen from the page datastorage unit 221 to be discussed later. No content code is assigned to ablank address in FIG. 9. In other words, no job is present at a blankaddress.

FIG. 10 illustrates the page data storage unit 221 storing the jobscreen. The page data storage unit 221 stores the job screen and thecontent code with the job screen mapped thereto.

When the display screen is to be updated or modified, the managementunit 215 transfers to the display control unit 216 a content codecorresponding to a job screen corresponding to a shift destination andan instruction to switch the job screen.

The display control unit 216 retrieves the job screen corresponding tothe content code from the page data storage unit 221 in response to thecontent code managed by the management unit 215. The display controlunit 216 transmits the retrieved job screen to the terminal device 10via the transceiver 211, and instructs the terminal device 10 to displaythe job screen again.

The process job address recorder unit 214 stores, of the proceduremanaged by the management unit 215, an address of a job performed at apoint of time, or an address of a job corresponding to the job screendisplayed on the terminal device 10 at the point of time. An addressstored on the process job address recorder unit 214 is updated inresponse to an operation of the terminal device 10.

In response to an event detected by the event monitor unit 212, theoperation instructing unit 213 issues to each element in the server 20instructions of operation actions including display control of the jobscreen. If the event detected by the event monitor unit 212 is one ofthe “preceding job,” the “next job,” and the “next process,” the eventmonitor unit 212 retrieves the address recorded on the process jobaddress recorder unit 214. The operation instructing unit 213 referencesthe procedure managed by the management unit 215 and performs anoperation such as updating the address retrieved from the process jobaddress recorder unit 214. If the event detected by the event monitorunit 212 is the “fault operation,” the operation instructing unit 213instructs the interrupt display unit 218 to display a fault interrupt.

The operation instructing unit 213 performs an operation correspondingto the event detected by the fault event monitor unit 219.

In response to the instruction from the operation instructing unit 213,the interrupt display unit 218 instructs the terminal device 10 todisplay a fault operation screen.

In order to record an operation history of the terminal device 10 by theoperator as a performance record in a control operation separate fromcontrol of the displaying of the job screen, the operation instructingunit 213 notifies the performance record recorder unit 217 ofinformation related to the event detected by one of the event monitorunit 212 and the fault event monitor unit 219. In response to thenotification from the operation instructing unit 213, the performancerecord recorder unit 217 stores the performance record on theperformance record storage unit 222.

FIG. 11 generally illustrates an operation of displaying the job screen.

When the touch panel 13 is operated on the terminal device 10, the eventmonitor unit 212 detects the generated event, and notifies the operationinstructing unit 213 of the event. In response to the notificationcontent, the operation instructing unit 213 updates the address recordedon the process job address recorder unit 214. The management unit 215then references the process job address recorder unit 214, andrecognizes the updated address.

The management unit 215 references process job management data stored onthe process control unit 220, identifies the content code tablecorresponding to the process and job of the assembly performed on theterminal device 10, and retrieves the content code corresponding to theupdated address. The retrieved content code is transferred to thedisplay control unit 216.

The display control unit 216 references the page data storage unit 221,and retrieves page data corresponding to the content code received fromthe management unit 215, i.e., retrieves the job screen. The displaycontrol unit 216 replaces photograph and drawing, and transfersreplacement screen information to the terminal device 10. Through thisoperation, the replacement job screen is displayed on the display unit12 in the terminal device 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates a performance record stored on the performancerecord recorder unit 217.

The performance record of the embodiment maps pieces of informationincluding “work day,” “work time,” “drawing number,” “serial number,”“operation signal,” “process address,” “job address,” and “operatorname.”

A “work day” column indicates the day on which the job is performed, anda “work time” column indicates the time at which the job is performed.In the embodiment, the time and date on which the operator has operatedthe terminal device 10 are recorded in the “work time” and the “workday” columns, respectively. The notification of the “work day” and the“work time” may be transmitted from the terminal device 10 to the server20. Alternatively, the server 20 may recognize the time at which thenotification is received from the terminal device 10. In this case, theterminal device 10 is free from notifying the server 20 of informationrelated to the time and date.

A “drawing number” column indicates a drawing number attached to aproduct as an assembly target, and in practice functions as informationidentifying an assembly target product. A “serial number” columnindicates a particular number unique to a product out of productsidentified by the drawing number. Even if the products have the samedrawing number, the job may be different from serial number to serialnumber. The “serial number” is recorded in the embodiment in order tomanage the progress of the jobs of the products having the same drawingnumber and being assembled in parallel.

An “operation signal” column indicates a region where a signal outputtedfrom the operation instructing unit 213 is stored. Output from theoperation instructing unit 213 as the operation signals is informationindicating the “preceding job,” the “next job,” the “next process,” the“fault operation,” the “restore” operation and the “retire” operationoperated on the terminal device 10. The performance record recorder unit217 records in the “operation signal” column the content indicated bythe operation signal received from the operation instructing unit 213.

A “process address n” column and a “job address m” column indicate aprocess address and a job address as a shift destination to which theprocess and the job shift to as a result of the operation performed onthe terminal device 10. In this case, the updated address of the processjob address recorder unit 214 is recorded. For example, if the “nextprocess” is selected with one of the jobs in the final process leftuncompleted, no address is present as a shift destination. Informationindicating the completion of the procedure is written at the processaddress and the job address.

An “operator name” column indicates the name of an operator who hasperformed the job, or identification information of the operator.

FIG. 12 is not intended to limit the type of information to be recordedas the performance record. Information not illustrated in FIG. 12 may berecorded as the performance record. Any of the information illustratedin FIG. 12 may not be recorded as the performance record.

The performance record of FIG. 12 may be used as process managementinformation.

If a paper check sheet is used, it is difficult to instantly check theprogress status of the assembly process. For example, a fault such as ajob delay may occur. If the operator fails to warn another operator thatthe fault has occurred, the other persons including a supervisorsupervising an assembly line have difficulty learning the occurrence ofthe fault.

In the embodiment, the operation history of the terminal device 10 isrecorded as the performance record. The progress status of the job isthus easily checked. For example, if the time at which the “nextprocess” is recorded is used as the performance record, a lead timebetween processes may be calculated. In the embodiment, a variety ofinformation calculated as appropriate may be displayed in graph. Theoperator may thus learn the progress status of the assembly on areal-time basis. Early detection of a process fault and a timelyresponse to the fault may be performed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of storing aperformance record on the performance record recorder unit 217.

If one of the event monitor unit 212 and the fault event monitor unit219 detects the occurrence of an event (S1), an operation signal isoutputted from the one of the operation instructing unit 213 and thefault event monitor unit 219 to the performance record recorder unit 217(S2). Upon receiving the operation signal, the performance recordrecorder unit 217 retrieves a process job address (n,m) of a shiftdestination of an operation event by referencing the management unit 215(S3). The performance record recorder unit 217 retrieves from theprocess control unit 220 apparatus information, process information andoperator information related to the operation event (S4). Theperformance record recorder unit 217 then adds to the time of theoccurrence of the operation event to the retrieved information and thenwrites the resulting information on the performance record storage unit222 (S5).

The operation of each element of the terminal device 10 and the server20 and the operation performed by the operator from the start of theassembly job are described below. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating anoperation of each element at the startup of the assembly job.

When the assembly job is performed, information identifying a product asan assembly target, such as the “drawing number,” or the “serial number”is inputted via the terminal device 10 (S11). The input information istransmitted together with information identifying the terminal device 10to the server 20 (S12). Information such as the “drawing number” may beconverted into a bar code, and the bar code may be attached to theassembly target product. At the start of the assembly, the bar code maybe read using a bar code reader arranged on the terminal device 10. Theinformation such as the “drawing number” of the assembly target productmay be easily obtained.

The name of the operator performing the job is transmitted together withthe information identifying the product to the server 20. A particularoperator may use only a particular terminal device 10. If the server 20has information associating the terminal device 10 with the operator,the terminal device 10 simply transfers to the server 20 only theinformation identifying the terminal device 10.

Upon receiving the notification from the terminal device 10 via theevent monitor unit 212, the operation instructing unit 213 sets on theprocess control unit 220 the following information (S13). Theinformation set on the process control unit 220 by the operationinstructing unit 213 includes the apparatus information including thedrawing number and the serial number, information identifying theterminal device 10, and operator information identifying the operator.The management unit 215 expands the process and the job corresponding tothe specified apparatus information based on the information set on theprocess control unit 220, and starts managing the assembly job. Themanagement unit 215 retrieves the content code corresponding to theaddress of a leading process and a leading job from the content codetable (S14), and transfers to the retrieved content code to the displaycontrol unit 216 (S15).

The display control unit 216 searches the page data storage unit 221 inaccordance with the transferred content code and reads from the pagedata storage unit 221 a job screen corresponding to the leading processand the leading job (S16). The display control unit 216 transfers theread job screen to the terminal device 10 via the transceiver 211. Inthis case, the transceiver 211 attaches, to the job screen, informationidentifying the terminal device 10 as the transfer destination of thejob screen, and then transmits the job screen (S17).

Upon receiving the information of the job screen with the informationidentifying own device, the terminal device 10 displays the received jobscreen on the display unit 12 (S18).

In parallel with displaying the job screen, the operation instructingunit 213 notifies the performance record recorder unit 217 of thenotification content from the terminal device 10 (S19). The performancerecord recorder unit 217 retrieves from the process control unit 220 thedrawing number, the serial number, and the operator name supplied by theterminal device 10. The performance record recorder unit 217 storesthese pieces of information together with the operation time and date ofthe terminal device 10 onto the performance record storage unit 222(S20). The performance record recorder unit 217 further records theaddress of the leading process on the process address n, and the addressof the leading job of the leading process on the job address m.

Through the above series of operations, the assembly job is ready tostart.

An operation performed when the operator selects the “next job” isdescribed below. FIG. 15 illustrates the operation of each element ofthe terminal device 10 and the server 20 performed when the operatorselects the “next job.”

When the operator selects a region of the touch panel 13 correspondingto the “next job,” the terminal device 10 transmits to the server 20 theinformation identifying own device together with a notification that the“next job” has been selected (S21).

When the event monitor unit 212 detects the “next job” event (S22), theoperation instructing unit 213 retrieves from the process job addressrecorder unit 214 the address (n,m) corresponding to the operator (S23),and determines whether the retrieved address (n,m) is an address (n,M)of the final job of the process n (S24). This determination operation isperformed by referencing the information expanded on the management unit215.

If the retrieved address (n,m) is not the address (n,M) of the final jobof the process n (no branch from S24), the operation instructing unit213 updates the address to (n,m+1) (S25), and transfers the updatedaddress to the process job address recorder unit 214. The process jobaddress recorder unit 214 writes the transferred address (S26). Throughthis operation, the address recorded on the process job address recorderunit 214 is updated to the address of the next job.

When the address of the process job address recorder unit 214 isupdated, the management unit 215 retrieves from the content code tablethe content code corresponding to the updated address (n,m+1) (S27), andthen transfers the content code to the display control unit 216 (S28).The display control unit 216 having received the content code from themanagement unit 215 reads out from the page data storage unit 221 thejob screen corresponding to the received content code (S29), and thentransmits the job screen to the terminal device 10 via the transceiver211 (S30).

The terminal device 10 displays the job screen received from the server20 onto the display unit 12 (S31).

In a control operation separate from displaying the job screen, theoperation instructing unit 213 transfers to the performance recordrecorder unit 217 the detected “next job” event subsequent to theaddress updating in S25 (S35). Upon receiving the “next job,” theperformance record recorder unit 217 writes the “next job” in theoperation signal column (S36). The performance record recorder unit 217references the process job address recorder unit 214 and writes “n” atthe process address and “m+1” at the job address on the performancerecord storage unit 222 in response to the updated address (n,m).

If the address retrieved from the process job address recorder unit 214is (n,M) corresponding to the final job of the process n (yes branchfrom S24), the operation instructing unit 213 determines whether thedetailed information is set to the process n (S32). If the detailedinformation is set (yes branch from S32), the operation instructing unit213 instructs the management unit 215 to retrieve the detailedinformation of the process n. In response to the instruction from theoperation instructing unit 213, the management unit 215 retrieves thecontent code corresponding to the detailed information screen of theprocess n, and notifies the display control unit 216 of the content code(S33). In the same way as the next job screen is displayed, the displaycontrol unit 216 reads the detailed information screen from the pagedata storage unit 221 (S29), and transmits the detailed informationscreen to the terminal device 10 via the transceiver 211 (S30). Thedetailed information screen is thus displayed on the display unit 12 inthe terminal device 10 (S31).

If the operator selects any position of the touch panel 13 with thedetailed information screen displayed, the terminal device 10 terminatesthe displaying of the detailed information screen and reverts back tothe job screen of the final job of the process n. The terminal device 10notifies the server 20 that the job screen has reverted back to thefinal job of the process n. In response to the notification from theterminal device 10, the server 20 recognizes that the display unit 12 inthe terminal device 10 has reverted back to displaying the job screencorresponding to the final job of the process n.

If the detailed information is not set (no branch from S32), theoperation instructing unit 213 does not update the address recorded onthe process job address recorder unit 214 (S34). In other words, the jobscreen corresponding to the final job of the process n remains displayedon the terminal device 10 with no change taking place on the screen.

It is contemplated that the job screen of a next process (n+1) isdisplayed if a next job is selected while the final job M of the processn is in progress. However, if the “next job” is selected on the terminaldevice 10, it is difficult to discriminate whether the selection of thenext job is the operator's intention or the operator's erraticoperation.

If the “next job” is selected by the operator without being aware thatthe process n has been completed, the job screen of a next process n+1is displayed as a result. The operator is likely to erratically performa job in accordance with the job screen displayed on the display unit 12not knowing that the job screen has been shifted to the next processn+1. In order not for the operator to erratically recognize the jobscreen and to make an error on the job screen, the job screen of thenext process n+1 is preferably displayed only when the operatorrecognizes that the series of jobs of the process n has been completed.

The display apparatus of the embodiment is used to manage the progressof the job and to manage the process. If the screen of the next processis displayed with the “next job” selected, the performance recordtypically accounts for that history of operation. The operator may haveoperated the “next job” without being aware the completion of the seriesof jobs of one process. The performance record recorded becomesredundant and is not highly reliable information in a sense.

In view of the above situation, the job screen is not updated and isdisabled to proceed to a next process in the embodiment even if the“next job” is selected with the final job screen of a given processdisplayed.

An operation when the operator selects the “preceding job” on theterminal device 10 is described below. FIG. 16 is a flowchartillustrating an operation of each element of the terminal device 10 andthe server 20 when the “preceding job” is selected.

When the operator selects the “preceding job” on the terminal device 10,the terminal device 10 notifies the server 20 of the selection of the“preceding job” and the identification information of own device (S41).

The event monitor unit 212 having detected the “preceding job” eventnotifies the operation instructing unit 213 of the detection of the“preceding job” event (S42). In response to the notification from theevent monitor unit 212, the operation instructing unit 213 retrieves theaddress (n,m) recorded on the process job address recorder unit 214(S43), and determines whether the retrieved address (n,m) matches anaddress (1,1) of the leading process and the leading job (S44).

If the retrieved address is (1,1) (yes branch from S44), the operator isunable to move the job screen backward further. The operationinstructing unit 213 does not update the address retrieved from theprocess job address recorder unit 214 (S54). The server 20 does notissue an instruction to update the job screen to the terminal device 10.The job screen displayed on the terminal device 10 remains the jobscreen of the leading process and the leading job.

If the retrieved address is not (1,1) (no branch from S44), theoperation instructing unit 213 determines whether the retrieved addressis (n,1), i.e., the retrieved address matches the address of the leadingjob in the process n (S45).

If the retrieved address is not (n,1) (no branch from S45), theoperation instructing unit 213 updates the address to (n,m−1), andwrites the updated address on the process job address recorder unit 214(S46).

The process job address recorder unit 214 is thus updated, and themanagement unit 215 retrieves the content code corresponding to theupdated address (n,m−1) (S47), and notifies the display control unit 216of the content code (S48). The display control unit 216 reads out fromthe page data storage unit 221 the job screen corresponding to thecontent code from the management unit 215 (S49), and transmits the readjob screen to the terminal device 10 via the transceiver 211 (S50). Thejob screen of the preceding job of the same process is thus displayed onthe terminal device 10 (S51).

If the retrieved address matches (n,1), i.e., the address of the leadingjob of the process n (yes branch from S45), the operation instructingunit 213 updates the address to (n−1,1), i.e., the address of theleading job of a preceding process (n−1), and writes the updated addresson the process job address recorder unit 214 (S53). Operations followingS48 are performed and the leading job screen of the preceding process(n−1) is displayed on the terminal device 10 (S51).

As is the case with the “next job,” it is contemplated that the finaljob screen of the preceding process (n−1) is displayed on the terminaldevice 10 if the “preceding job” is selected with the leading job screenof the process n displayed. The operator may actually select the“preceding job.” The final job screen of the preceding process may bedisplayed on the terminal device 10, although the operator does notintend to display the job screen of the preceding process, and may failto understand which job screen is displayed. Each process is consideredone unit of procedure. When the “preceding job” is selected with theleading job screen of the process n displayed, the operator more easilylearns that the job screen has shifted to the screen of the precedingprocess if the leading job screen instead of the final job screen of thepreceding process (n−1) is displayed.

In the embodiment, if a “preceding job” is selected with the leading jobscreen of a given process displayed, the job screen is shifted to theleading job screen of the preceding process based on the assumption thatthe operator intends to move back to the preceding process.

If a job (m#1) other than a leading job of a process is being executed,it is generally likely that the operator does not intend to move to thejob screen of the preceding process. If the “preceding job” is selectedwith the job screen other than the leading job displayed, the job screenis controlled to shift to the job immediately preceding the present jobin the same process.

If the “preceding job” is selected, the operation instructing unit 213instructs the performance record recorder unit 217 to record theperformance record in parallel with controlling the displaying of thejob screen (S55). The instruction to record the performance record isissued subsequent to the updating of the address in S46 or S52. Theperformance record recorder unit 217 references the process job addressrecorder unit 214, and writes the address, if updated, at the “processaddress n” column and the “job address m” column, respectively (S56).The performance record recorder unit 217 references the process controlunit 220 to retrieve the apparatus information and the operatorinformation, and then writes the apparatus information and the operatorinformation on the performance record storage unit 222.

An operation when the operator selects the “next process” on theterminal device 10 is described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating theoperation performed when the “next process” is selected.

The operator selects the “next process” on the terminal device 10 of theembodiment in order to check the job screen of a next process subsequentto a process presently in progress. The operator also selects the “nextprocess” in order to check that the jobs of one process have beencompleted.

When the region of the touch panel 13 corresponding to the “nextprocess” is selected by the user, the terminal device 10 notifies theserver 20 of the identification information of own device and theselection of the “next process” (S61).

The event monitor unit 212 detects the event of the “next process” fromthe notification from the terminal device 10, and notifies the operationinstructing unit 213 of the event detection of the “next process” (S62).Upon receiving the notification from the event monitor unit 212, theoperation instructing unit 213 retrieves the address (n,m) recorded onthe process job address recorder unit 214 (S63). The operationinstructing unit 213 then determines whether the retrieved address is(N,m), i.e., any of the addresses of the final process N (S64).

If the retrieved address is (N,m) (yes branch from S64), the operationinstructing unit 213 determines that all the series of processes havingthe same drawing number have been completed, and ends the operation(S71). The operation instructing unit 213 notifies the performancerecord recorder unit 217 of the “next process” (S73). In response to thenotification from the operation instructing unit 213, the performancerecord recorder unit 217 records the “next process” at the “operationsignal” column of the performance record, and records at the “processaddress n,” and the “job address m,” information, indicating that thefinal process has been completed, rather than the address (S73).

The performance record recorder unit 217 writes on the performancerecord storage unit 222 the performance record to the effect that theseries of processes has been completed.

If the retrieved address is not (N,m), i.e., the retrieved address isnot any of the addresses of the final process (no branch from S64), theoperation instructing unit 213 updates the retrieved address (n,m) to(n+1,1), and writes (n+1,1) on the process job address recorder unit 214(S65).

The management unit 215 references the updated address on the processjob address recorder unit 214, retrieves the content code correspondingto (n+1,1) (S66), and notifies the display control unit 216 of thecontent code (S67).

The display control unit 216 reads out from the page data storage unit221 the job screen corresponding to the content code from the managementunit 215 (S68), and transmits the job screen via the transceiver 211 tothe terminal device 10 that has notified of the “next process” (S69).

The display unit 12 in the terminal device 10 displays the job screencorresponding to the leading job of the next process (n+1) (S70).

After updating the address in S65, the operation instructing unit 213notifies the performance record recorder unit 217 of the “next process”(S74). In the performance record, the “next process” is written in the“operation signal” column, and the updated address is written in the“process address n” column and the “job address m” column (S75).

An operation performed when the operator selects a “fault operation” onthe terminal device 10 is described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustratingthe operation when the “fault operation” is selected.

If a fault such as a damage in a product occurs in the assembly job, theoperator selects a region of the terminal device 10 corresponding to the“fault operation.” The terminal device 10 then notifies the server 20that the “fault operation” has been selected. In this case, as well, theterminal device 10 notifies the server 20 of the identificationinformation of own device (S81).

When the notification is received from the terminal device 10 via thetransceiver 211, the event monitor unit 212 detects the “faultoperation” event. The event monitor unit 212 notifies the operationinstructing unit 213 that the “fault operation” event has been detected(S82).

The operation instructing unit 213 is notified of the detection of the“fault operation” event by the event monitor unit 212, and instructs theinterrupt display unit 218 to execute a fault interrupt operation (S83).In response to the instruction from the operation instructing unit 213,the interrupt display unit 218 instructs the terminal device 10 via thetransceiver 211 to suspend the displaying of the job screen (S84). Theinterrupt display unit 218 also instructs the terminal device 10 todisplay a fault operation screen (S85). Through this operation, theterminal device 10 displays the fault operation screen.

The operation instructing unit 213 receives the notification of the“fault operation” event from the event monitor unit 212, and instructsthe performance record recorder unit 217 to record the performancerecord of the fault operation (S87). In response to the instruction fromthe operation instructing unit 213, the performance record recorder unit217 records the “fault operation” in the “operation signal” column ofthe performance record (S88). The address at the time of the detectionof the “fault operation” may be recorded in the “process address” columnand the “job address” column.

When the interrupt display unit 218 transmits the notification to theterminal device 10, the fault event monitor unit 219 starts monitoring afault event from the terminal device 10 (S86).

Described below is an operation performed in a period throughout whichthe fault event monitor unit 219 performs the event monitoring. FIG. 19illustrates the operation during the event monitoring period of thefault event monitor unit 219.

If a fault has been cleared with the fault operation screen displayed,the operator selects the “restore” region on the fault operation screen.This operation also serves to the server 20 as a notification that aproduct as a target of the assembly job at the occurrence of the faultis introduced back into the assembly line of the product.

The fault event monitor unit 219 performing the fault event monitoringmay detect the “restore” event in the notification from the terminaldevice 10 (S91 and “restore” branch from S92). The fault event monitorunit 219 then notifies the operation instructing unit 213 of thedetection of the “restore” event (S93). Since the address at thegeneration of the “fault operation” event is stored on the process jobaddress recorder unit 214, the management unit 215 references thataddress (S94). The management unit 215 retrieves from the content codetable, the content code corresponding to the referenced address (S95).The management unit 215 then notifies the display control unit 216 ofthe content code (S96).

The display control unit 216 reads out from the page data storage unit221 the job screen corresponding to the content code from the managementunit 215 (S97). The display control unit 216 attaches to the job screenthe identification information of the terminal device 10, which hasnotified of the “restore,” and then transmits the job screen to theterminal device 10 via the transceiver 211 (S98). Upon receiving thenotification with the identification information attached thereto, theterminal device 10 displays the received job screen on the display unit12 thereof (S99). The job screen is then displayed on the terminaldevice 10 of the operator. The operator then continues the assembly job.

The operation instructing unit 213 receives the notification from thefault event monitor unit 219, retrieves the address (n,m) in S94, andinstructs the performance record recorder unit 217 to record aperformance record that the fault has been cleared (S103). Uponreceiving the instruction from the operation instructing unit 213, theperformance record recorder unit 217 records the “restore” in the“operation signal” column. The performance record recorder unit 217retrieves the address corresponding to the restored job screen from themanagement unit 215 and then records the address in the “process addressn” column and the “job address m” column, respectively (S104).

If the fault is difficult to be cleared, the assembly target product isremoved from the assembly line, and the operator selects the “retire”region displayed on the fault operation screen of the terminal device10. In this case, the terminal device 10 notifies the server 20 that the“retire” operation has been selected (S91, “retire” branch from S92, andS100).

Upon detecting the “retire” event included in the notification from theterminal device 10, the fault event monitor unit 219 notifies theoperation instructing unit 213 of the “retire” event (S101). The faultevent monitor unit 219 then terminates the operation after determiningthat the series of assembly jobs has been suspended (S102).

Upon receiving the notification from the fault event monitor unit 219,the operation instructing unit 213 instructs the performance recordrecorder unit 217 to record a performance record that the “retire”operation has been selected (S103). The performance record recorder unit217 thus writes the “retire” in the “operation signal” column of theperformance record (S104).

A record of process management is typically stored. To this end, theoperator is requested to select the “restore” operation or the “retire”operation in the embodiment such that an action taken subsequent to theoccurrence of the “fault operation” is checked.

In the embodiment, the management unit 215 manages the address of eachjob and the content code by mapping the address to the content code. Thedisplay control unit 216 reads out the job screen from the page datastorage unit 221 in accordance with the content code. The job screen isnot directly mapped to the address of the job. The reviewing of theprocess job may result in the shifting or omitting an original process(n,m). The reviewing of the content of the process job may result in themodification of the job procedure, or the addition of a new process(n′,m′). In such a case, a job screen matching the process job ofinterest is easily displayed in a manner free from the process job. Evenif the process job is to be reviewed, the content code mapped to eachprocess is simply modified, and the modification of the page datastorage unit 221 functioning as an image database is limited to aminimum.

FIGS. 20 through 24 illustrate operations when the process job ismodified. FIGS. 20 through 24 illustrate how the content code managed bya content code table 231 is processed when a particular signal isselected. The operations illustrated in FIGS. 20 through 24 areperformed by the management unit 215 in the server 20 having received asignal from the operator.

The assembly process jobs of the same product are not necessarily thesame. A variety of improvement activities are typically in progress atthe work place. The optimization of the process and the optimization ofthe job may frequently cause a modification in the process order and amodification in the job order. In the embodiment, the responses to thevariety of improvement activities are implemented by modifying thecontent of the content code managed by the management unit 215.

The operations discussed below may be performed by executing a programon the server 20.

The addition of a series of jobs is described below with reference toFIG. 20. FIG. 20 illustrates the content code table 231. Content databefore updating is illustrated in the left portion of FIG. 20, andcontent data after updating is illustrated in the right portion of FIG.20. The same is true of FIGS. 21 through 24.

In the example here, the content data of a job X, i.e., the job screenis added to a job address (1,3) of a process 1.

If the job screen of the job X remains unregistered, the job screen ofthe job X is mapped to the content code X and then stored on the pagedata storage unit 221. The job screen of the job X is supplied in theform of image information to the server 20 using a variety of inputdevices. The operator may input the content code X corresponding to thejob screen of the job X using the input device. If the job screen of thejob X is already registered on the page data storage unit 221, thestorage operation of the job screen is not performed.

The management unit 215 updates the content code table 231 such that thecontent code “X” is mapped to the job address (1,3). In this case, themanagement unit 215 remaps the content codes “C” and “D,” respectivelyoriginally mapped to the addresses (1,3) and (1,4), in one addressshifted positions, i.e., to addresses (1,4) and (1,5), respectively, inorder to update the content code table 231.

This operation allows the job screen of the added job to be easilymapped to the process even if the new job is added to the given process.

A change in the job order between processes is described with referenceto FIG. 21.

An operation of shifting a third job (2,3) in a process 2 to an address(3,2) in a process 3 is described below.

The management unit 215 shifts content codes “K” and “L,” mapped to theaddresses (3,2) and (3,3) in the content code table 231, by one addressto addresses (3,3) and (3,4), respectively. The management unit 215 thenshifts a content code “G”, originally mapped to an address (2,3), to theaddress (3,2) in the content code table 231.

The address (2,3) becomes empty in the process 2. The management unit215 shifts content codes “H” and “I,” mapped to addresses (2,4) and(2,5), to addresses (2,3) and (2,4), respectively.

A modification in the job order in a process is described with referenceto FIG. 22.

The order of jobs “O,” “P,” and “Q” in a process 4 is described here.

The content code “O” is mapped to address (4,3) in the process 4.Similarly, the content code “P” is mapped to address (4,4), and thecontent code “Q” is mapped to address (4,5). The job order is changedfrom “O”→“P”→“Q” to “P”→“Q”→“O”.

The management unit 215 modifies the mapping of the jobs “O,” “P,” and“Q” to addresses. The management unit 215 updates the content code table231 such that the content code “P” is mapped to address (4,3), thecontent code “Q” is mapped to address (4,4), and the content code “0” ismapped to address (4,5). The job order is changed within the process 4.The mapping between the job screen of each job and the content coderemains unchanged. Even if the job order is changed within the process,the job screen may be retrieved in accordance with the content codemapped to the job address as the shift destination.

A deletion of a job from a process is described below with reference toFIG. 23.

A job “U” is deleted from a process 5 here in this example.

The management unit 215 references the content code table 231, andcancels the mapping between address (5,3) and the content code “U.” Inorder to advance the jobs “V,” “W,” and “R” in the job order followingthe job “U” as a delete target, the management unit 215 modifiesaddresses respectively mapped to the content codes “V,” “W,” and “R” to(5,3), (5,4), and (5.5).

An operation of changing the process order is described below. FIG. 24illustrates an operation procedure of changing the process order.

In this operation example, a process 2 is moved behind a process 4.

The management unit 215 shifts, at a time, the content codescorresponding to the jobs within the process 2 to the position of theprocess 4 (the process address being “4”) in the content code table 231.Along with this operation, the management unit 215 advances processes 3and 4 in order. The content codes of the process 3 are shifted to theposition of the process 2 and the content codes of the process 4 areshifted to the position of the process 3.

The process numbers “1,” “3,” “4,” “2,” . . . are arranged from the topon the right side of each of the right and left portions of FIG. 24. Theprocess numbers are for convenience only to indicate the differencebetween the right and left portions of FIG. 24.

The addresses of the processes and the jobs managed by the managementunit 215 remain unchanged in the operations from FIG. 20 through FIG.24. The modification, the addition, and the deletion operations of thejob screen responsive to the modification of the process and job areeasily performed by simply modifying the mapping to the content codes.

The shifting and modification of the content code described above may beperformed by a mouse-dragging operation on the screen as illustrated inFIG. 25.

One job may be modified in order with a series of job screens of aprocess displayed in a table. In such a case, the operator places amouse on a job screen that the operator may wish to move in position,and drags the job screen to a destination in the dragging operation.

FIG. 25 illustrates a dragging operation in which the job screen of ajob 2 of an “AAA assembly” process is shifted to a position of a job 3.In this case, the operator places the mouse on the position of the jobscreen of the job 2 and shifts the mouse to the position of the jobscreen of the job 3 in the dragging operation.

The management unit 215 in the server 20 recognizes the mapping betweenthe coordinates of each job screen displayed on the display unit 12 andthe content code of the job screen. When the dragging operation isperformed as illustrated in FIG. 25, the management unit 215 determinesfrom operation coordinates of the mouse which job screen is dragged. Themanagement unit 215 verifies the coordinates of the mouse destination,and then recognizes the job screen at the mouse destination, and thecontent code. The management unit 215 maps the content code of the shifttarget screen to the address at the shift destination based on therecognition results. The management unit 215 maps the content code of ajob to be advanced in order or a job to be receded in order in responseto the shifting of the job to an address of an advance destination or areceding destination. As illustrated in FIG. 25, the management unit 215maps the content code of the job screen of the job 2 to the addresscorresponding to the job 3. Since the job 3 advances in order, themanagement unit 215 updates the content code table such that the contentcode of the job screen of the job 3 is mapped to the addresscorresponding to the original job 2.

FIG. 25 also diagrammatically illustrates the operation of the operatorin which the job screen of a job 3 in a BBB assembly process is shiftedto the position of the job screen of a job 2 in a CCC assembly process.The operator moves the mouse to the position where the job screen of thejob 3 in the BBB assembly process is displayed, and then moves the mousein the dragging operation to the position where the job screen of thejob 2 in the CCC assembly process is displayed.

The management unit 215 recognizes the mouse operation, and determinesthat the job screen of the job 3 in the BBB assembly process has beenselected, and that the shift destination of the job screen is the jobscreen position of the job 2 in the CCC assembly process. The managementunit 215 also retrieves the content code corresponding to the address ofthe job 3 in the BBB assembly process, and updates the content codetable such that the content code is mapped to the address of the job 2in the CCC assembly process. The job 4 and subsequent jobs in the BBBassembly process advance in order. The management unit 215 updates thecontent code table such that the content code of the job screen of thejob 4 is mapped to the address corresponding to the empty job 3. On theother hand, the job 2 and subsequent jobs in the CCC assembly processrecede in order. The management unit 215 updates the content code tablesuch that the content code of the job 2 corresponding to the shiftdestination of the job 3 in the BBB assembly process is mapped to theaddress of the shift destination.

In order to change the process order, the operator moves a targetprocess to be changed to a shift destination in the dragging operation.

The display apparatus described above is free from the need to lay paperdocuments such as drawings, procedure manuals, or check sheets on adesk, and thus increases job efficiency. In the embodiment, an operationevent on the touch panel by the operator is recorded as a performancerecord of the operator. No paper check sheets are used, and the operatoris free from checking the check sheet.

In the embodiment, the operator may select a desired region moreaccurately when the touch panel 13 is touched by a finger of theoperator. No button is displayed on the display unit 12. The job screenis easy to view even if the display unit 12 is not large enough.

Since the jobs are grouped on a per process basis in the embodiment, themanagement of the jobs and the management of the processes are easy. Inparticular, each process and each job are managed by address and/orcoordinates, and the mapping between the job screen and address and/orcoordinates is managed by content code. The reading of the job screen iseasy. An operation for modifying the job screen in response to amodification of the job and the process is easily performed.

The manner of shifting of the job screen is changed by referencing theaddresses of the job and process at the time of the touch paneloperation, and by taking into consideration the position of the addressand the operation content of the operator. The shifting of the jobscreen is controlled in a manner appropriate to the job status.

If the operator erratically touches the touch panel 13, there is apossibility that the job screen shifts to a state that the operator maynot intend. The shifting of the job screen is controlled taking intoconsideration whether the operator is in the leading job or the finaljob at the touch panel operation. Even if the operator erraticallyoperates the touch panel 13, the effect of the erratic operation isminimized. In the embodiment, the job screen shifting instruction inputby the user is used as the process management record to check the statusof the process or the completion of the process. An erratic operation bythe operator may lead to a problem in the record of the processmanagement. In the embodiment, control is performed taking intoconsideration the progress status of the job and the operation contentof the touch panel. The problem in the record of the process managementis less likely.

In the embodiment, the terminal device having wireless communicationfunction is used. Alternatively, however, a terminal device having wiredcommunication function may be used.

In the embodiment, the information such as the job screen is stored onthe server. The information such as the job screen may be stored on theterminal device. In such a case, the terminal device may store theinformation on a storage unit thereof, or a portable storage unitinstalled thereon. In response to an instruction from the server, theterminal device reads out the information from the storage unit anddisplays the information on the display unit thereof.

In the embodiment, the server recognizes the shifting of the job screenand the job. Alternatively, the terminal device may recognize the statusof the job, and display the job screen in an autonomous fashion. If theperformance record is all managed by the terminal device, the server ofthe type described above may not be used. If all the job progress statusis to be monitored on a real-time basis, the display operation of thejob screen may be performed on the terminal device in an autonomousfashion. The terminal device notifies the server of the touch paneloperation. The server may record and manage the operation content fromthe terminal device as the performance record.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the inventionand the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, andare to be construed as being without limitation to such specificallyrecited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of suchexamples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority andinferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the presentinvention have been described in detail, it should be understood thatthe various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made heretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a displayconfigured to display any of a plurality of job screens, each of theplurality of job screens corresponding to any of one or more jobprocedures, the one or more job procedure being associated with anassembly of an apparatus; a touch panel disposed on the display, thetouch panel being configured to detect an operation by a user; aprocessor coupled directly or indirectly to the touch panel, theprocessor being configured to receive a position of an operation by theuser from the touch panel, the position corresponding to any coordinateson the touch panel, identify a first region on the touch panel inaccordance with the received position, the first region being any of aplurality of divided regions on whole area of the touch panel, theplurality of divided regions being transparently overlapped over a firstjob screen displayed on the display in a way that each of the pluralityof divided regions is defined by a static boundary extended over wholeof the display, the first job screen indicating a first job procedure,the first job procedure being any of the one or more of job procedures,the plurality of divided regions including at least a first dividedregion and a second divided region, the first divided regioncorresponding to a first command for going to a job screen correspondingto a preceding job procedure, the second divided region corresponding toa second command for going to a job screen corresponding to a second jobprocedure, the preceding job procedure being a job procedure one beforethe first job procedure, the second job procedure being different fromthe preceding job procedure and the first job procedure, and display, inresponse to the identifying the first region, a new job screen on thedisplay in a way that each of the plurality of divided regions istransparently overlapped over the new job screen, wherein each of theplurality of divided regions is defined by a static boundary extendedover whole of the new job screen.
 2. The display apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the second job procedure is a next job procedure thatis a job procedure one after the first job procedure.
 3. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more jobprocedures belongs to any of a plurality of job groups, wherein each ofthe plurality of job groups is arranged in sequential order, wherein thesecond job procedure is a job procedure in a next job group that is ajob group one after a first job group in the plurality of job groups,wherein the first job group is a job group to which the first jobprocedure belongs.
 4. The display apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a wireless communication circuit; wherein theprocessor is configured to transmit a first signal to a server via thewireless communication circuit, the first signal corresponding to theidentified first region.
 5. The display apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the processor is configured to receive, in response to thetransmitting of the first signal, the new job screen from the server,display the new job screen on the display in a way that each of theplurality of divided regions is transparently overlapped over the newjob screen, wherein each of the plurality of divided regions is definedby a static boundary extended over whole of the new job screen.
 6. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an order of each of theplurality of job screens is changeable in accordance with a commandissued from a computer different from the display apparatus.
 7. A methodof controlling to display a job screen indicating a job procedure, themethod comprising: receiving, by a processor of a first computer, aposition of an operation by the user from a touch panel, the positioncorresponding to any coordinates on the touch panel disposed on adisplay, the display being configured to display any of a plurality ofjob screens, each of the plurality of job screens corresponding to anyof one or more job procedures, the one or more job procedure beingassociated with an assembly of an apparatus; identifying, by theprocessor of the first computer, a first region on the touch panel inaccordance with the received position, the first region being any of aplurality of divided regions on whole area of the touch panel, theplurality of divided regions being transparently overlapped over a firstjob screen displayed on the display in a way that each of the pluralityof divided regions is defined by a static boundary extended over wholeof the display, the first job screen indicating a first job procedure,the first job procedure being any of the one or more of job procedures,the plurality of divided regions including at least a first dividedregion and a second divided region, the first divided regioncorresponding to a first command for going to a job screen correspondingto a preceding job procedure, the second divided region corresponding toa second command for going to a job screen corresponding to a second jobprocedure, the preceding job procedure being a job procedure one beforethe first job procedure, the second job procedure being different fromthe preceding job procedure and the first job procedure; and displaying,by the processor of the first computer, in response to the identifyingthe first region, a new job screen on the display in a way that each ofthe plurality of divided regions is transparently overlapped over thenew job screen, wherein each of the plurality of divided regions isdefined by a static boundary extended over whole of the new job screen.8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second job procedure isa next job procedure that is a job procedure one after the first jobprocedure.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein each of the oneor more job procedures belongs to any of a plurality of job groups,wherein each of the plurality of job groups is arranged in sequentialorder, wherein the second job procedure is a job procedure in a next jobgroup that is a job group one after a first job group in the pluralityof job groups, wherein the first job group is a job group to which thefirst job procedure belongs.
 10. The method according to claim 7,further comprising: transmitting a first signal to a server, the firstsignal corresponding to the identified first region.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising: receiving, in response to thetransmitting of the first signal, the new job screen from the server,displaying the new job screen on the display in a way that each of theplurality of divided regions is transparently overlapped over the newjob screen, wherein each of the plurality of divided regions is definedby a static boundary extended over whole of the new job screen.
 12. Themethod according to claim 7, wherein an order of each of the pluralityof job screens and the one or more job procedures are changeable inaccordance with a command issued from a second computer different fromthe first computer.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium for storing a program which causes a processor to performprocessing of controlling to display a job screen indicating a jobprocedure, the processing comprising: receiving a position of anoperation by the user from a touch panel, the position corresponding toany coordinates on the touch panel disposed on a display, the displaybeing configured to display any of a plurality of job screens, each ofthe plurality of job screens corresponding to any of one or more jobprocedures, the one or more job procedure being associated with anassembly of an apparatus; identifying a first region on the touch panelin accordance with the received position, the first region being any ofa plurality of divided regions on whole area of the touch panel, theplurality of divided regions being transparently overlapped over a firstjob screen displayed on the display in a way that each of the pluralityof divided regions is defined by a static boundary extended over wholeof the display, the first job screen indicating a first job procedure,the first job procedure being any of the one or more of job procedures,the plurality of divided regions including at least a first dividedregion and a second divided region, the first divided regioncorresponding to a first command for going to a job screen correspondingto a preceding job procedure, the second divided region corresponding toa second command for going to a job screen corresponding to a second jobprocedure, the preceding job procedure being a job procedure one beforethe first job procedure, the second job procedure being different fromthe preceding job procedure and the first job procedure; and displaying,in response to the identifying the first region, a new job screen on thedisplay in a way that each of the plurality of divided regions istransparently overlapped over the new job screen, wherein each of theplurality of divided regions is defined by a static boundary extendedover whole of the new job screen.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein thesecond job procedure is a next job procedure that is a job procedure oneafter the first job procedure.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 13, wherein each of the one or morejob procedures belongs to any of a plurality of job groups, wherein eachof the plurality of job groups is arranged in sequential order, whereinthe second job procedure is a job procedure in a next job group that isa job group one after a first job group in the plurality of job groups,wherein the first job group is a job group to which the first jobprocedure belongs.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium according to claim 13, the processing further comprising:transmitting a first signal to a server, the first signal correspondingto the identified first region.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 16, the processing further comprising:receiving, in response to the transmitting of the first signal, the newjob screen from the server, displaying the new job screen on the displayin a way that each of the plurality of divided regions is transparentlyoverlapped over the new job screen, wherein each of the plurality ofdivided regions is defined by a static boundary extended over whole ofthe new job screen.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium according to claim 13 wherein an order of each of the pluralityof job screens and the one or more job procedures are changeable inaccordance with a command issued from a computer different from theprocessor.